Central Illinois Red Cross leader Anne Fox retiring

PEORIA — The longtime chief of the local American Red Cross chapter is calling it quits.

Anne Fox will retire at the end of August as the CEO of the organization’s central Illinois region after 31 years with the Red Cross, the group announced Friday.

Most recently during her tenure, the local chapter served as disaster operation headquarters for the 2013 spring floods and the Nov. 17 tornadoes that struck the area. The two are considered the largest disasters ever to strike the state, the Red Cross said in a news release announcing Fox’s departure.

“Anne has dedicated her life to helping others, and our organization will be forever grateful. Her legacy and leadership will be our guidance as we continue to serve the community,” local chapter board Chairman Gregory Folley said in the release. “She has earned our Red Cross Central Illinois Region a nationwide reputation of ongoing excellence and outstanding disaster recovery service.”

The chapter serves more than 2 million people across 45 counties in Illinois and Missouri and operates 10 offices over that territory.

The timeline for naming Fox’s replacement hadn’t been decided as of Friday.